Extended step.



L. T. JACK.

EXTENDED STEP. APPLICATION FILED JAN. n. 1915.

1,141,800. Patented June 1, 1915.

v THE NOR R's PETERS C0" PHOIO-LITHO. WASHINGTON. D. Cl

r rare.

LEWIS T. JACK, 'OF liEOUNT STERLING, IOWA.

EXTENDED STEP.

iaison.

Application filed January 11, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEWIS T. JACK, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Sterling, in the county of Van Buren and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Extended Step, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is an extensible step adapted to be employed upon railway vehicles and elsewhere under conditions which call for a device of the structure hereinafter described.

The invention aims to provide novel means for mounting theauxiliary step slidably on the main step and to provide novel means for raising and lowering the auxiliary step.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment .of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2 is a side elevation wherein the auxiliary step is shown as having been lowered, parts being broken away; Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the auxiliary step raised; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation; Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the invention there is provided asupporting structure in the present instance shown in the form of a car 1. Attached to the car 1 is a main step, the main step comprising stiles 2 connected by treads 3. Slidably mounted on the main step is an auxiliary step, the same embodying stiles 4L mounted to slide on the outer faces of the stiles 2. The stiles 4 of the auxiliary step are united by a back plate 5 slidably engaged with the rear edges of the stiles 2. The stiles 4 are united by one or more treads 6, the same being connected with the back plate 5.

Attached to the back plate 5 as shown in Fig. 4 by means of securing elements 8 is an upwardly extended bail 7 to the intermediate portion of which is pivoted as shown at 9, an upwardly extended link 10, pivoted as shown at 11 to a crank arm 12 projecting rearwardly from the intermediate portion of a rock shaft 14 journaled for rotation in bearings 15 on the stiles 2 of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Serial No. 1,651.

main step. The rock shaft 14 is provided at one end with a crank arm 16 and disposed at an angle to the crank arm 12. Pivoted at its rear end to the crank arm 16 is a forwardly extended primary link 17, the forward end of which is pivoted to a forwardly extended secondary link 18, the latter terminatmg in a handle 19. Mounted upon one of the stiles 2 of the main step is a guide 20 in wh ch the links 17 and 18 are adapted to reciprocate. One of the stiles 4 of the auxiliary step is provided with a clip 21 adapted to receive the secondary link 18 when the auxiliary step is raised up as shown in Fig. 3. The link 18 it is now to be observed, is provided with the handle 19 which, being engaged with the lower edges of the clip 20 when the .parts are disposed as shown in Fig. 3, prevents the link 18 from moving upwardly and rearwardly.

Interengaging elements are provided upon the main and auxiliary steps for limiting the downward movement of the auxiliary step when the same is lowered as shown in Fig. 2. With this end in view, the stiles 2 of the main step are provided with outwardly projecting ribs 22, adapted to move in slots 23, formed in the inner faces of the stiles of the auxiliary step.

Let it be supposed that the auxiliary step is in the lowered position shown in Fig. 2. Then the ribs 22 on the main step engage the stiles 4 of the auxiliary step at the upper ends of the slots 23, and further downward movement of the auxiliary step is positively prevented.

When it is desired to raise the auxiliary step, the handle 19 is grasped, and the link 18 together with link 17 are pulled forwardly, these elements moving through the guide 20 which is attached to one of the stiles 2 of the main step. By this operation, rocking movement will be imparted to the shaft 1 f through the medium of the crank arm 16, the crank arm 12 actuating the link 10 and the latter drawing upwardly on the bail 7, thus effecting a raising of the auxiliary step. The link 18 is pulled forwardly and downwardly by means of the handle 19 and ultimately the link 18 is forced between the diverging jaws of the resilient clip 21 and is held by the clip, the handle 19 engaging the lower edge of the clip to prevent an upward movement of the link 18, a rocking of the shaft 14 and a dropping of the auxiliary step. The auxiliary step thus is made doubly secure when in the raised position shown in Fig. 3. Not only is the rock shaft 14 prevented from rotating, but the means which prevents the shaft 14 from ror main step; an auxiliary step mounted to slide thereon; a fixed guide; a flexible actuatmg member extended through the guide and comprising a free end; means on the auxiliary step for holding the free end'of the actuating 'member detachably; and

means for operatively connecting the other end of the actuating member with the auxiliary step. e

2. In a device of the class described, a main step; an auxiliary step mounted to slide thereon; a fixed guide on the main step; a flexible actuating member extended through g means for operatively connecting one end of the flexible actuating member with the rear portion of the auxiliary step; and means on the auxiliary step, below the guide, for receiving the other end of the actuating member detachably.

3(In a device of the class described, a main step; an auxiliary step mounted to slide on the main step; a rock shaft jour-- naled on'the main step and provided with crank arms; a connection between one crank arm and the auxiliary step; a'fiexible actuating'member extended transversely of'the main step and operatively connected with the other arm on the rock shaft and having link detachably V 7 I V In testimony that I claim the foregoing, as myrown, I have hereto afiixed my signa--' a freely-swinging end; a guide on the mainstep and receiving the flexible actuating member slldably; and means carried by the auxiliary step for receiving said end of the flexible actuating member detachably.

4. In a device of the class described, a

main step; an auxiliary step mounted to slide on the main step a' rock shaft jour-- naled for 1Ot2Lt10Il on the mam step and provided with a crank arm; means for opthe crank arm and extended transversely of the main step; a secondary link pivoted to the primary link and adapted to extend downward; aguide.oiitbe'mainstep and I receiving the primary link slidably; and

56] eratively. connecting the rock shaft-with the 1 auxiliary step; a primary link pivoted to means carried by the auxiliary step for re ceiving the secondary link detachably when l i 60 the latter is downwardly extended.

In a device of the class fdescribed,a V mam step; an auxiliary step mounted to slide on the main step; a-jrockshaft pro 7 vided with a crank "arm; means for sup porting the rock shaft; means for connecting therock shaft operatively with the auxiliary step; a primary link pivoted to'the crank arm and extended transversely of the inain'step; a dependingsecondary link pivoted to the forward end of the primary link; and a clip on the auxiliary step,tl1e

clip being adapted to receive the secondary;

W. H. Jnivuson, R. E. MADDEN;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the f Commissioner of Patents, 1

Washington, D. G. 

